I was involved in a research project to assess the patterns of waking and standing from sitting for elderly people using special apparatus and software in Germany. However, I am looking for more input of your view to assess the quality of motion (movement) to build standards for further comparison and application for industry. This will help basic field in medicine, human factor engineering and physical education fields.
Dear prof. Kilani,
We have started to use Functional Movement Screening (FMS) as an standardized test for quality of whole body movement ability and quality in field research as well as in outpatient practice. It is subjective, but very applicable and does not require any hardware. For scientific purposes we use set of MoCap sensors and special software.
I don't know if FMS is adequate for industry purposes, but sensor network surely is.
Regards,
Dusko Spasovski
Dear Dusko Spasovski,
Thank you for the information you provided. We used special apparatus for standing from sitting for elderly people. But your recommendation is valuable for general analysis
Prior to answering your query about what assessment protocols i use for movement quality, permit me to briefly discuss the issue of "quality" as i understand it.
Quality of movement is much more significant than the "quantity". When the health authorities exhort people to move more, in many cases they're exacerbating health problems - it's not just a case of move more, but of move smarter. Movement quality can be partially described in terms of biomechanical and ergonomic efficiency, ROM, symmetry, stability, endurance, stepping strategies, etc. Associated with these factors is a slew of tests and protocols, each with its particular significance.
Added to that needs be the consideration of unquantifiable but important parameters such as sure-footedness, ease, grace, rhythm, coordination, synchronisation of movement and breathing, centredness, etc.
Bear in mind that people behave differently in a clinical or laboratory environment, because they are being observed and tested.
Regardless of which yardstick you choose to measure movement quality, there arises the issue of biometrics, i.e. the application and relevance of normative data to the individual. For example, how do you correlate the movement patterns of a whippet and a bulldog? My point is that each person has hir own unique health indices.
The assessment protocols that i use are essentially of my own design and construct - they are based on the clinical observation of a number of human movements that typify ADLs. These include examination of gait, stance, sitting, and reclining from the perspectives of posture, strength and power, control, movement effectiveness, overall physical tone, flexibility, symmetry, acuity, stability, age, response to environmental factors (e.g. walking surfaces, obstacles, assistive devices, extrinsic balance disturbance), etc. The tests that i employ include (but are not limited to) a combination of static and dynamic postures, single- and double-leg stance & gait movement patterns, simple stretches, and floor routines. Whilst these procedures may sound time-consuming, they require only a few minutes to perform and provide an excellent insight into an individual's health, fitness and functionality from a biomechanical and exercise physiology perspective.
You are welcome to contact me for further elucidation about my assessment protocols.
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